Top Scoops galore, a convergence of polls and the latest from the waves and the hustings.... Scoop has it all.

THESE POLLS MUST HELP! - GUESS AND WIN WHISKY! - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9911/S00142.htm

http://img.scoop.co.nz/stories/images/9911/7af5c961df6912e49e6e.jpeg

TOP SCOOPS

Well, Are They? When All Else fails...

- After a hard week with not much media attention and poor polling Winston Peters has lashed out at not one but two newspapers. Peters says the Christchurch Press is using dirty tricks and sheer malice to malign the local candidate, Dr Andrew Gin. See... Christchurch Press Using Smear Tactics - Peters [1] . He is also promising legal action against the NBR. See... Peters Responds To NBR Allegation [2] . Both in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9911/S00458.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9911/S00459.htm

ELECTION 1999: Polls, Personal Attacks, Pressure

- There is a real risk in placing too much trust in the polls, however this week definite and consistent trends suggest New Zealand is preparing to vote for a new government. Jonathan Hill writes. See... ELECTION 1999: Polls, Personal Attacks, Pressure [1] in the Headlines wire. See the polls… The National Business Review - Latest Poll [2] , TV3 Poll Shows Left Breaking Away [3] and Herald Digi Poll Shows Greens Over Five Per Cent [4] . The Waikato Election Study Poll has just been updated (Friday midday), confirming the general trends. See... http://www2.waikato.ac.nz/politics/nzes/nzes99.htm [5] .

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9911/S00142.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/NM9911/S00125.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9911/S00139.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9911/S00143.htm
[5] - http://www2.waikato.ac.nz/politics/nzes/nzes99.htm

The Cannabis ‘Debate’ - Nats Get Nasty Over Green Threat

– Jonathan Hill looks at the beginning of a National Party campaign to discredit the Greens and to save their MP in the Coromandel. The first blows have been over the Greens cannabis policy but a proper debate on the issues seems no closer. See... Cannabis Debate - Nats Get Nasty Over Green Threat [1] in the Headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9911/S00134.htm

Ryall 'Makes It Up' In Cannabis Debate

– In a National Radio debate on Thursday over cannabis decriminalisation, National Minister Tony Ryall claimed that Whakatane Hospital’s psychiatric ward was “full of young people with drug-induced psychoses”. He said: “These people have had to be admitted to get help because of their excessive use of cannabis. It’s destroyed their lives.” Whakatane Hospital has said Ryall’s comments were false and Ryall has since apologised. ACT and NZ First have said they would support some kind of review of the law, leaving National completely isolated.

Celebrate the Last ‘Odd Digit Day’ For 1100 Years

- Today - Friday, 19/11/1999 - will be the last day that has all odd digits in its date until 1/1/3111. That's right, you will have seen the last ‘odd digit day’ in your lifetime, and for approximately 37 generations to come! Find some way to celebrate it.

Mr Delamere: Enough Is Enough! -

How much longer do we have to endure the shame of having asylum seekers hunger striking while locked up inside Mt Eden Prison? A long time yet if today's media release from Immigration Minister Tuariki Delamere is anything to go by. See. Mr Delamere: Enough Is Enough! [1] in the Headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9911/S00136.htm

Cash-Strapped Romania Puts Taxi Meters in Ambulances

- Health authorities in parts of Romania have started fitting ambulances with taxi meters because of a shortage of cash. People who are dead or in a coma are exempt. John Howard reports. See... Bankrupt Romania Puts Taxi Meters in Ambulances [1] in the Headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9911/S00140.htm

Web Site Launched To Monitor Global Spy Network

- The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has launched ‘Echelon Watch’ a website designed to prompt worldwide governmental investigations into the global electronic surveillance system called Echelon. John Howard reports. See... Web Site Launched To Monitor Global Spy Network [1] in the Headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9911/S00138.htm

AMERICAS CUP SCOOPS

Twas Another Strange Day's Sailing:

Thursday's racing started under heavy conditions, the wind blowing from the North at near 20 knots, the seas heavy with a two metre swell. What followed was a day of postponements, withdrawals, penalties and an outstanding display of aggressive match racing. See… Twas Another Strange Day's Sailing [1] in the Auckland wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK9911/S00096.htm

Redress Hearings Set For Friday:

AmericaOne and Prada Challenge have both lodged Requests for Redress in the wake of International Jury Decision Number 13, handed down this morning. See… Redress Hearings Set For Friday [1] in the Auckland wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK9911/S00095.htm

Americas Cup - Prada Team Cheered On By Pavarotti:

Italy's Prada Americas Cup challenger team has won its tenth match of the Louis Vuitton Cup in Round Robin. Prada beat the French yacht Le Défi by 3 minutes 49 seconds. The win followed a cheer session between the crew of Luna Rossa and world acclaimed tenor Pavarotti. See… Prada Team Cheered On By Pavarotti [1] in the Auckland wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK9911/S00094.htm

CAMPAIGN 1999

Prebble: Why NZ First Supporters Should Vote ACT

- This election the polls say the people of Tauranga want a change in representation. It's not just that you are tired of Mr Peters, it's the company he keeps. Last election it was the NZ First Party that introduced us to $89.00 underwear … See... Why NZ First supporters should vote ACT [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9911/S00462.htm

National Launch Conservation Policy – Commit To saving Kiwi

- Prime Minister Jenny Shipley and Conservation Minister Nick Smith have announced National's commitment to establishing five new kiwi sanctuary zones on the mainland to ensure the survival of our national icon. See... National Committed To Saving Our National Icon [1] . However native Forest Action protested at the launch asking how they could commit to saving the kiwi when they supported logging of its prime habitat. See... Dead native bird symbolises National Conservation [2] . Both in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9911/S00456.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9911/S00457.htm

Nats and ACT Challenged to Justify $6 Million Timberlands Subsidy

- The logging of West Coast rimu forests by Timberlands is being subsidised to the extent of nearly $6 million a year claims the Forest and Bird Protection Society. See... Nats/ACT Asked To Justify $6m Timberlands Subsidy [1] in the Politics wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO9911/S00116.htm

PSA Members at IRD Strike

- PSA members at Inland Revenue – angry at the lack of progress in negotiating a new collective contract - will stop work at offices across most of the country today and hold lunchtime rallies to highlight their dispute. See... Tax workers stop work in push for new contract [1] in the Politics wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE9911/S00073.htm

Absenteeism and Illness Cost Industry $3 Billion Per Annum

- New Zealand industry is suffering hidden costs of between $2.5 - $3 billion a year through workplace absenteeism and a subsequent loss of productivity, says one of the country's leading specialist health insurers. See... Costs Of Workplace Illness & Absenteeism $3b [1] in the Business wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU9911/S00063.htm

Burn Down The House of Political Opponents

- In a fit of pique, upset that his Green counterpart is getting more publicity, Bernard Darnton, Libertarianz spokesman for law and order and leader of Wild Libz - The New Freeland Liberation Army, today announced his plan to burn down the houses of his political opponents. See... 'Green' Light for Terrorism [1] in the Politics wire. See also… Simich and Tanczos in agreement over Cannabis [2] in the Politics wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO9911/S00115.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO9911/S00114.htm

I Haven’t Been Calling Old People Late At Night – Peters

- The New Zealand First Leader and MP for Tauranga, Rt Hon Winston Peters, has today lodged a formal complaint with the police regarding late night phone calls to elderly Tauranga residents, claiming to be from Mr Peters’ office. See... Late Night Phone-calls Not From My Office — Peters [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9911/S00438.htm

Dramatic Reduction In Disqualified Drivers

- Six months into the new driver licensing regime and after more than 1 million photo licences have been issued, we've seen a dramatic reduction in disqualified driving figures, Transport Minister Maurice Williamson says. See... Dramatic Reduction In Disqualified Drivers [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9911/S00436.htm

Steps taken To Prevent CJD In Kiwi Blood Supplies

- Steps are being taken to protect the New Zealand blood supply from potential contamination from variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD). See... Measures To Protect Blood Supplies from CJD [1] in the General wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE9911/S00070.htm

Alliance Launch Employment Policy

- Nobody under 20 will be on the dole under the Alliance employment policy. Instead, anyone under twenty who doesn't have full-time work will have free access to education or vocational training such as an apprenticeship, and will be paid as much for education or training as the unemployment benefit provides. See... Alliance employment policy [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9911/S00433.htm

Prebble – The Final Countdown

- There are eight days to go in the final campaign of the twentieth century. The campaign has been as dull as the issues are important. Our two women leaders have refused to engage each other or the nation in a debate over our country's future. See... The final countdown [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9911/S00432.htm

Greens Urge National To Fight Fair

– Green party campaign manager Roland Sapsford has written to the National party campaign manager over concerns that National are starting to run a dirty campaign against the Greens, particularly in the Coromandel. See... Greens Urge Nats To Fight Fair in Letter [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9911/S00427.htm

ACT Call For Select Committee Inquiry Into Floods

- ACT Leader Hon Richard Prebble today said ACT would insist that a special Select Committee of Parliament investigate who should be held liable for the latest flood in Alexandra. See... ACT Wants Select Committee Inquiry Into Floods [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9911/S00430.htm

© Scoop Media

Alastair Thompson

Scoop Publisher

Alastair Thompson is the co-founder of Scoop. He is of Scottish and Irish extraction and from Wellington, New Zealand. Alastair has 24 years experience in the media, at the Dominion, National Business Review, North & South magazine, Straight Furrow newspaper and online since 1997. He is the winner of several journalism awards for business and investigative work.

CONTACT ALASTAIR THOMPSON

• Mobile - 021707044
• Twitter - @althecat
• Google+

• Linkedin
• Facebook
• Email - alastair@scoop.co.nz